“Stunning. He was given a name to explain exactly where He is during my deepest need.

He is Immanuel-“God is with us”

He is not a concept, a theory or a theology. He is not a system or a religion. He is not an icon, a figurehead, or a mythical movement leader. He is not an allegory. He is not an ideal. He is not a way of life. He is not a memory. He is not experienced in the past or the future. He is not a static-drenched echo from a far off land. He is not once, or at one time. He is not less real now than He was to those who could touch Him. He is not the property of the pietistic, of any denomination or location…He is God with me, God with us, God with them, God with the wicked and twisted and vile, all at once…”

Read the rest here (you really, really want to).

Merry Christmas, friends.

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“Jesus stands at the door knocking (Rev. 3:20). In total reality, he comes in the form of the beggar, of the dissoute human child in ragged clothes, asking for help. He confronts you in every person that you meet. As long as there are people, Christ will walk the earth as your neighbor, as the one through whom God calls you, speaks to you, makes demands on you. That is the great seriousness and great blessedness of the Advent message. Christ is standing at the door; he lives in the form of a human being among us. Do you want to close the door or open it?”

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer, God is in the Manger

If you’re looking for more than a candy countdown this Christmas, you might like my new eBooklet, More Than Candy – a 25-Day Christmas Countdown that Counts. It’s 25 days of things to do with your family that matter to your neighbors, your local community, your family, and those in need.

I began creating Christmas countdowns years ago after being exposed to them during college. Every year our church would hand out an advent calendar that had scriptures and actionable steps to take to make a difference in the community and in our own hearts. I loved it and I ended up continuing the tradition when I moved away from that church.

What you will find in More Than Candy is our family’s Christmas countdown (it is not an advent devotional). I start with an overview of the days, and I then add more detail and/or ideas to accompany each day’s opportunity.

More Than Candy is FREE to all subscribers. If you already subscribe, it will be linked at the bottom of your email. If you’re a new subscriber (subscribe here!) you will get the eBooklet in my next post. If you would like it before my next post, just send me an email with “MORE THAN CANDY” in the subject line letting me know that you have just subscribed.

This year, don’t just let the days go by in a flurry, missing an opportunity to serve. Make the days count. I’ll be counting right along with you.

Want to click over to the blog? It's at http://www.sarahmae.com ! :)

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